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hue's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
So, A Far Wilder Magic reads like a poorly edited debut novel. Though it isn't a debut. Here is the problem(s).
The book is overwritten to the point it disturbs the story. Example; Maggie is treated with ill in Wickdon because she is Yu'adir. This is already mentioned in the first chapter, if I'm not mistaken, and since then repeated endlessly over and over again. By page 150 I'm bored of it. Tell me something else about her.
Another example; the narration, whether Maggie's or Wes's, somehow constantly repeats what has been told mere moments ago, just worded differently, though often not. It's exhausting, and it diminishes the earthly feel to these people that they might be real somewhere. They become paper at once, two-dimensional, plain characters. As mentioned before, I'm bored!
The dialogue is, for the lack of a better word, cringe at times. probably falls into the overwritten category but I found myself rolling my eyes or feeling secondhand embarrassment a bit too often for enjoyment. Bantering is fun to read, but constantly? No. They did not talk like two people would actually talk with each other, and definitely not the two people they were. Maggie would've shot him down quicker, if the writing was accurate, and Wes would fluster with her because she was the "sole" girl that did not immediately swoon at his words. Make it make sense.
The chemistry between them—the romance so to say—is not there. Wes just suddenly decided he doesn't find Maggie all that repulsive anymore? And Maggie, though initially despising everything about Wes and what he stood for, finds herself jealous over his charming behaviour towards others. Though it is stated she is jealous of how others see him opposed to her, but it doesn't explain all those instances where she reacts poorly when he's being flirty to another girl/lady that isn't her. It feels a lot like "they fall in love because one is a boy and the other is a girl, and because they've spent five seconds looking at each other". No? That's now how it works? They've just met, Maggie is a rough gal and Wes is a damn flirty squid, he'd probably ask a phone book on a date if it were female! Point being, it just isn't there, the romance.
Out of Wes's four sisters, only one has a personality; Mad. The other three are like caricatures with no soul. It's depressing. Why is there's four of them if only one is truly alive? Every now and then one of them says something different or does something that is slightly personal, but it isn't enough. They're easily forgettable. At least his Mum was well written, and well, Mad.
The sudden change in Maggie's personality (around page 270 maybe?) just ticks me off. She starts sounding like Wes which doesn't make sense at all. Her harshness isn't harsh anymore, and all she seems to think of is Wes, and not the fact that the Hunt holds literally everything of what she loves in a chokehold. For a story about the Hunt, there's very little of the Hunt. It's mostly them getting fluffy with each other, which is kinda meh even for a romance book. The setting was wonderful; why didn't the author take use of it?
So, despite the harshness of my words, I still enjoyed some of it. I loved the grey scenery, I loved Mr Halanan and his big, lovely heart as well as his protectiveness of Maggie. I loved Trouble, and I loved how he and Wes became quick buddies. I loved Maggie for being a strong girl who despite desperately wishing for her Mother's love stood strong by herself, with her hound and her duties, and shot like a queen. I adored her roughness, her quick annoyance, her solitude, and the grief that came with it. I loved the dinner scene at the Winters' house where Maggie was uncomfortably joined. I loved how she survived despite being an outcast. If the writing would've been consistent, I would've loved her to bits.
However, the Author does get a point for writing queer people that exist the way "everyone else" does. They're there but it isn't such a big deal. They aren't stereotypes. They're people. I loved that.
The book is overwritten to the point it disturbs the story. Example; Maggie is treated with ill in Wickdon because she is Yu'adir. This is already mentioned in the first chapter, if I'm not mistaken, and since then repeated endlessly over and over again. By page 150 I'm bored of it. Tell me something else about her.
Another example; the narration, whether Maggie's or Wes's, somehow constantly repeats what has been told mere moments ago, just worded differently, though often not. It's exhausting, and it diminishes the earthly feel to these people that they might be real somewhere. They become paper at once, two-dimensional, plain characters. As mentioned before, I'm bored!
The dialogue is, for the lack of a better word, cringe at times. probably falls into the overwritten category but I found myself rolling my eyes or feeling secondhand embarrassment a bit too often for enjoyment. Bantering is fun to read, but constantly? No. They did not talk like two people would actually talk with each other, and definitely not the two people they were. Maggie would've shot him down quicker, if the writing was accurate, and Wes would fluster with her because she was the "sole" girl that did not immediately swoon at his words. Make it make sense.
The chemistry between them—the romance so to say—is not there. Wes just suddenly decided he doesn't find Maggie all that repulsive anymore? And Maggie, though initially despising everything about Wes and what he stood for, finds herself jealous over his charming behaviour towards others. Though it is stated she is jealous of how others see him opposed to her, but it doesn't explain all those instances where she reacts poorly when he's being flirty to another girl/lady that isn't her. It feels a lot like "they fall in love because one is a boy and the other is a girl, and because they've spent five seconds looking at each other". No? That's now how it works? They've just met, Maggie is a rough gal and Wes is a damn flirty squid, he'd probably ask a phone book on a date if it were female! Point being, it just isn't there, the romance.
Out of Wes's four sisters, only one has a personality; Mad. The other three are like caricatures with no soul. It's depressing. Why is there's four of them if only one is truly alive? Every now and then one of them says something different or does something that is slightly personal, but it isn't enough. They're easily forgettable. At least his Mum was well written, and well, Mad.
The sudden change in Maggie's personality (around page 270 maybe?) just ticks me off. She starts sounding like Wes which doesn't make sense at all. Her harshness isn't harsh anymore, and all she seems to think of is Wes, and not the fact that the Hunt holds literally everything of what she loves in a chokehold. For a story about the Hunt, there's very little of the Hunt. It's mostly them getting fluffy with each other, which is kinda meh even for a romance book. The setting was wonderful; why didn't the author take use of it?
So, despite the harshness of my words, I still enjoyed some of it. I loved the grey scenery, I loved Mr Halanan and his big, lovely heart as well as his protectiveness of Maggie. I loved Trouble, and I loved how he and Wes became quick buddies. I loved Maggie for being a strong girl who despite desperately wishing for her Mother's love stood strong by herself, with her hound and her duties, and shot like a queen. I adored her roughness, her quick annoyance, her solitude, and the grief that came with it. I loved the dinner scene at the Winters' house where Maggie was uncomfortably joined. I loved how she survived despite being an outcast. If the writing would've been consistent, I would've loved her to bits.
However, the Author does get a point for writing queer people that exist the way "everyone else" does. They're there but it isn't such a big deal. They aren't stereotypes. They're people. I loved that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Racism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
maresuju's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
_teoeo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This is everything Divine Rivals wanted to be (but better).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Emotional abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Death of parent
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Hmmm, idk … hunting stories aren’t for me 🤷🏻♂️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Animal death
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I liked the character-focused storyline of this book—I found both main characters very compelling and I like that the reader is given a lot of time with them to truly know them before they fall for each other, which makes their happy ending all the more believable and rewarding . Some of the worldbuilding is a little vague (the different religious sects, the rules/history behind the hunt, etc.) which was a bit distracting at times but didn’t detract hugely from my enjoyment and investment in the story.
Read if you like satisfying, emotional, character-based romance.
Read if you like satisfying, emotional, character-based romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
ctara2123's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Animal death
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Sexual content
kristinallard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
alexijai98's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Solid YA romantasy! Give me more stories with a scary girl and her sad wet bf!
Be warned, this is definitely a ROMANtasy. The fantasy aspects are throughout the whole book, but the action mostly revolves around the protagonists’ romance - which I didn’t mind because I loved them both! Reading this made me feel fuzzy inside, the way it felt to read a stunning fanfiction back in 2014 (you know the ones with the titles in all lowercase, don’t pretend not to!). There is also some heavy-hitting Mommy Issue content in here that had my feeling some kind of way, so keep that in mind!
Be warned, this is definitely a ROMANtasy. The fantasy aspects are throughout the whole book, but the action mostly revolves around the protagonists’ romance - which I didn’t mind because I loved them both! Reading this made me feel fuzzy inside, the way it felt to read a stunning fanfiction back in 2014 (you know the ones with the titles in all lowercase, don’t pretend not to!). There is also some heavy-hitting Mommy Issue content in here that had my feeling some kind of way, so keep that in mind!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Religious bigotry, Violence, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Abandonment, Animal death, Classism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Colonisation
bohemianhermit04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Alcohol
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed most of this book. I found the relationship extremely compelling and every character in the book felt very real and alive. The prose made everything feel very cozy, but instilled a wonderful sense of dread in the scenes it really needed it.
To start, I thought the introduction to the world was very well done and didn’t feel like a long, rambling info dump for most of the early chapters. I thought Maggie’s introduction chapter was beautifully written and captured a melancholic nostalgia. Meanwhile Wes’ really captured the feeling of being out of place and anxious very well. I also enjoyed the difference in their perspectives. Maggie’s chapter made the manor feel comfortable and homey, while Wes’ chapter made it feel cold and eerie. I thought there was a well done, clear distinction between POVs and how different places and circumstances felt different depending on the POV you were in.
I also really enjoyed the relationship, watching Maggie and Wes slowly warm up to each other and come together as friends as they catch feelings was sweet and well executed. Relationships outside of theirs was also amazing. Maggie’s relationship with her mom was so sad, but you could totally understand why she was still so loyal to her mother. Meanwhile Wes’ relationship with his sisters felt so dead on and accurate. There were conversations with his sisters that felt exactly like conversations I’ve had with my two younger brothers and it was all so fun and sweet. Relationships outside of family were also really interesting, watching Maggie and Wes grapple with their identities from religious/ethnic groups outside of the norm felt (unfortunately) very real as well. It was sad and painful to watch them be pushed to the fringes of society and attacked.
The romance too was just so wonderful. I was giggling, kicking my feet, screaming, and freaking out the entire time. The pining and longing and refusal to admit feelings was just so yummy. It never felt ridiculous or overdone for their hesitations to be together, especially Maggie’s. I was also pleasantly surprised by their conflict resolution and that the brief third act break up was an outside force and an overblown miscommunication. I think my only issue with the romance was that I felt two of the really big moments happened at really strange times and it took me out of it a little bit. My other issue with the romance was the spice. Salt and sand on his lips? Wes. Stop. You’re going to give Maggie an infection. (That also took me out of the book.)
Otherwise it was amazing! I think if those had been handled a little bit better I would have easily given this 5 stars. Not rating it 5 stars was already hard, but I couldn’t look past those smaller flubs with the romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent